Mathematical Economics

The mathematical economics major provides strong training for students pursuing private-sector careers in investment banking, forecasting, applied mathematics, or finance, as well as graduate work in economics, operations research, and finance. Students majoring in mathematical economics must successfully complete no fewer than 15 units of listed courses in mathematics (MA) and economics and business (EC), including a senior thesis.

Major Requirements

To solidify basic problem-solving skills, all majors must initially take a common set of required courses in economic theory, calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations. Depending on individual course prerequisites, majors may then directly fulfill the elective requirement, which undertakes a more advanced treatment of mathematical economics, and complete a sequence of courses that provide exposure to the statistical modeling of data.

Students desiring to major in mathematical economics are required to pass the following prerequisites prior to admission into the major: EC150 (or 151 and 152), MA126, and MA129. In addition to those courses, all majors must complete MA220, MA315, EC207, EC209, MA217, EC408, EC392, and EC496, plus one approved MA elective course and one approved EC elective course. A list of approved electives may be obtained from either department or from the economics and business department website. Distinction in Mathematical Economics is awarded by action of the departments to up to the top 20 percent of graduating majors based on their GPA within the major, with the provision that they have also received an A in Senior Thesis.

Course of Study for the Mathematical Economics Major

To graduate as a mathematical economics major, students must pass a total of 15 units. The 15 units include eight units of required courses, two units of statistical modeling courses, three units of electives, and two units of senior thesis.

A. Required Courses (Total 8 Units)

Math (4 Units)

1.

MA126

Calculus 1

1 unit

2.

MA129

Calculus 2

1 unit

3.

MA220

Linear Algebra

1 unit

4.

MA315

Differential Equations

1 unit

Total units

4 units

Please note, Calculus 2 (MA129) is a prerequisite for Linear Algebra (MA220), and Linear Algebra is a prerequisite for Differential Equations (MA315)